“Can chiropractic make herniated disc worse?”
I am a 40 year old male and I have a herniated disc. Can chiropractic make herniated disc worse?
6 Answers
Not typically but it depends on how bad it is. Go find a chiropractor that does decompression
No
If the Dr. is very forceful or too reckless.
As with any medical procedure, there are some risks to chiropractic care, but it does have a better safety record than aspirin. A study done in the UK showed that a high percentage of individuals with MRI-confirmed disc herniations did very well with chiropractic treatment. And they saved a lot of money compared to those who underwent surgery for those same problems. Keep in mind that one trip to the chiropractor is typically not enough--it will typically require a series of visits to be effective.
In most cases, no, but in severe cases, it won’t make the herniation worse, but it could exacerbate the condition, depending on the inflammatory response the the patient is having. Understand, too, that when getting adjusted, your tissue is swollen, so it may hurt until the swelling goes down. The adjustment should remove the pressure, but with continued management of the swollen tissue, it will feel better.
It is possible but very unlikely that Chiropractic can make a herniated disc worse. Chiropractic is one of the most effective and safest treatment options for herniated discs. I would recommend seeking out a Chiropractor who utilizes the McKenzie method, Cox Flexion/Distraction method, or Sacro-Occipital Technique (SOT). These techniques have specific protocols for properly treating herniated discs.
